Coptic Music: Value and Origins

Music
elevates the spirit. It takes it from this tangible materialistic world
towards the intangible spiritual world. Art in general and music in particular
fleshes out what is spiritual. It is the medium between spirituality and
our material life. Every beauty in nature shows elevation and every artistic
inspiration demonstrates a level of elation.

Music
is not fantasy or distraction; it is part of life and one of its most important
elements. Musical talents are in each one of us. Some have the strength
to express it and others have the strength to feel it, enjoy it, and be
touched by it.

The
best instrument ever is the human's voice. People used vocal music since
their very early existence on earth. It has no substitute. All mothers,
starting with Eve, sing in order to calm down their babies. The songs or
tunes may differ, but they have one source: Motherly love.

For
thousands of years, people used music in worship to praise their creator.
They used music when working in prairies and over hills and mountains,
when building their houses, when traveling down rivers or across oceans.
Music is not just a combination of beautiful sounds that pleases the ear;
it is an essential nourishment of the soul. Food might taste good, but
the purpose of food is the nourishment of the body. Similarily, I won't
be exaggerating when I say that music's purpose is the nourishment of the
spirit.

The
Old Testament tells us that musical arts existed from the very early existence
of humans. In Genesis 4:21, we learn of Jubal son of Lamek of the 9th generation
from Adam. He was the father of all harpists and organists.

When
Moses and the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Exodus tells us how "[they
sang] this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the
LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously... And Miriam the prophetess, the
sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out
after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing
ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider
hath he thrown into the sea." [Exodus 15:1,21] Also in Judges we read:
"Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, Praise
ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered
themselves. Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing
unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel." [Judges 5:1-3].
And during the prophet David's time, music reached its fullness in poetry,
melodies and performances. Music was an essential part of all their praises
to their creator, their prayers in times of war and in times of peace,
theirin times of joy and and in times of sorrow.

In
Chronicles we read: "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers
were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the
LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals
and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good;
for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a
cloud, even the house of the LORD." [2-Chronicles 5:13].

With
this artistical splendeur, the Spirit came along, and with the strengh
and influence of music immobile materials were moved, and Jericho's walls
fell down.

This
is the status of art in worship it arrived to it's optimum.. How beautiful
are Psalms!!.. People still enjoy them until this day.. They were written
by the best ever mentioned psalters..

And
Isaiah says in Isa 6:1-4: I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high
and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims:
each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain
he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another,
and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full
of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that
cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

The
church on earth tries to imitate the Heavenly Church.. The Revelation Book
says that all heavenly hosts despite their different classes praise around
God's throne and in His house day & night saying the Trisagion and
reply saying that to Him be Power & Wisdom & Strengh & Honour
& Glory & Blessing for all things were created by Him.. And Rev
5:8-9 says And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and
twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps,
and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they
sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open
the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by
thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation..

This
is life in heaven.. One hymn on heaven will exceed all earthly hymns together
in beauty.. That will be our life in the New Jerusalem coming from heaven..

(There
the Chorus sang the Bright Saturday Response on the Revelation reading:
If you have ears, then listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches!)

How
beautiful are the tunes of these few verses of the Bible: And suddenly
there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,
and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men. I think that however great & profound our imagination is,
we can never realise how beautiful these tunes were..

I think
it became clear why Apostolic Churches did take a big amount of music in
it's services & dogmas over the whole year.. Specially the Coptic Church
where almost each word during the whole year whether in the morning or
evening is chanted..

Here
is the Apostolic teaching.. St.Paul speaks to Christians in his letter
to Ephesians.. Eph 5:19-20 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs,singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; And
in his letter to Colosians.. Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord...
St.John Christosomos explains that "singing with grace in your hearts"..
Also Origen, St.Basil, St.Augustin among others explained these verses
clearly.. It was clear from that letter to Clossians that St.Paul was referring
to Church Prayers which were well known to the readers.. From both texts,
it is clear that St.Paul made music an essential element of worship and
divided it to three: Psalms-Praises-Spiritual songs which are hymns.. These
three parts were the fundamentals on which all traditional churches: Oriental
& Occidental based their prayers.. If anyone objects on Apostolic Churches
we may say that the base is in the Bible..

The
early Christian Congregation began in Jerusalem.. It did attend both the
synagogue & the temple.. Several texts in the Acts book mentioned that..
Among which Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple
at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.. Although the temple's music
was instrumental, the synagogue's music was vocal.. So, when the first
christians became independent, they took their musical rites from the synagogue
and used only vocal singing.. Composers & Readers who left Judaisme
& believed in Christianity used to have the same job in Christianity..
So, Psalms were chanted exactly the same way they were sung in synagogues..

As
the early Jerusalem's Church the music was vocal in all Oriental &
western churches.. Also, it used the same Jewish way of psalm chanting
in most cases as the Jewish Christian church.. That what was said by fathers:
Apostles did transmit something from the Jewish dogmas & traditions
to all lands..

With
the beginning of Christianity, in every oriental or western country, raised
prayers, liturgies & dogmas conforming with the nature & environment
of each land also every land composed the music conforming with it's own
taste so the Byzantine Church Music is Byzantine, the Egyptian Church Music
is Egyptian, the Jewish the same.. The best example for that is that the
Ethiopian Church although conceived and affiliated to the Egyptian Church
for long generations remained pure Ethiopian.. That means that the local
inherited art had the biggest influence in forming the Church Art..

(Here
an Ethiopian Chorus sang an Ethiopian Hymn)

That
shows a big evidence on the difference between Coptic & Ethiopian Hymns.

So
every nation took from it's previous worship tunes which were found appropriate.
So undoubtedly, Greeks took from their ancient worship hymns and used it
in Christianity.. Also Romans took from their Ancient war Music & used
it and so did Egyptians..

Once
St.Mark came to Alexandria, Inianos' family was baptised and Christianity
spread quickly in all Northern & Southern Egypt in the first &
second generations.. In year 400 the Anas-Elwogood Island had a church
and a monastery.. Scientists agreed that no population believed in Christianity
in strength & zeal as the Egyptians did.. The Ancient Egyptian man
did in vain search for the unseen creative strength in the soul & spirit..

The
most important tradition for the Ancient Egyptian City was art.. As the
Ancient Egyptian arts were profoundly engraved in the people's heart, it
appeared clearly in Architecture, Sculpture and Ornaments.. Very influenced,
almost the same as the Ancient Egyptian with a compromise with the new
positions & thoughts of Christianity in the first four generations
where Christianity Hypostasis & basics were founded..

Let's
have a look at Ancient Egypt's art the land which believed in Christianity..
Pithagorus, the Greek scientist visited Egypt after 520 BC during the Hellenic
invasion to Egypt.. their pressure and destruction to all civilisation
& troubled social life.. He said that he could gather from Egypt elements
on which he based his well known musical theory!!

Singing
& Music was necessary at every Ancient Egyptian festival.. No meetings
lacked music.. Also women in every house, mastered music & practised
it.. In the pharaoh's Palace there existed Musical teams or bands with
singers they had conductors which were proud that they fill the pharaoh's
heart with joy & can realise His wants with their beautiful singing..

Religious
Festivals were real wonder and Glory when they move with the God in his
ship over the priest's shoulders in the temple.. People used to present
their offerings and salutations.. These customs were usually accompanied
by Musical & Singer groups.. Many of the religious liturgies were accompanied
by music.. Also kingly marches were lead by priests with praises &
incense many of the priests were called Psaltos Priest.. Or King singer
priests.. The Egyptian People is a very rich civilisation since old times..
Yet some of ancient words are said in Labours' songs and a song to Nile's
Sailors sung in Arabic exactly in it's same Ancient Egyptian pronunciation
which is:"Ya Tera Tiri we hatili..."

Egyptians
usually preferred to use blind singers.. There were many and the Coptic
Church still chooses it's cantors among blinds.. But we should take care
and choose only the talented ones..

The
Alexandria Library responsible " Dimetrios the Valerion" in 297 BC said
that in their Honour & Intercession festivals for Gods Egyptian Priests
used to sing on the 7 Greek vowels consecutively.. It produced beautiful
sounds which satisfied them from using the Flute or Harp.. Nikomax the
Mathematician who lived in the first century said the 7 vowels were special
to the seven stars.. Until today, most of the Coptic Hymns are sung on
these vowels.. Some are sung on Alpha (a) others on (e) as aretenshonty,
the Big Alleluia and the Offering Alleluia.. Ancient Egyptians considered
that singing with these vowels represented the most profound religious
expression..

(The
Chorus sang the Offering Alleluia)

Philo,
the Alexandrian Jewish Philosoph who lived in the first century said:

"The
first Christians took from the Ancient Egyptian Hymns & used it in
their new worship" Whether they took it as is, adding a spiritual dimension
or didn't take it, the Egyptian Art was still living and was still Egyptian
Flesh & Blood.. The Singary tune was named after Singar a city in the
delta since Ramses II which became famous in the Coptic Aera for the numerous
monasteries which were there around and it's church were 2 consequential
Popes were chosen..

The
Edriby Tune is probably named after Edribah the City whose Ancient temple
was changed by Abba Shenuti to a church.. Copts used also to find a relation
with the Coptic word "Eder Hipi" which means sorrowful..

The
text for hymn of the Cross: "When King Costantine's peace letters arrived
Alexandria saying close the Baraby doors & open the churches" this
hymn was written for the discovery of the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
in 326.. Many other hymn share this same tune with this one among which
the Shaaneen Sheres & Tarh and the Cross Tarh Hymn.. That proves that
these hymns are old..

Among
the oldest hymns, one written by St.Clement of Alexandria in 180 in his
book "Paedagogus" (the teacher).. It is a thanksgiving for Christ recited
by new baptised people for their salvation from the seas of sins its translation
is:"Holder of the wild animals, wing of the young birds, director of peace
for ships, shepherd of kingly lambs, gather Your poor children to praise
in holiness and sing in honesty with sincere mouths the Christ leader of
children.. Jesus human's salvation, the Vineyard Shepherd, the heavenly
help and the Holy sheep" No wonder that this hymn is no longer in use since
our fathers wrote hundreds of hymns

The
Oldest Christian hymn transcribed with musical signs was found on a Papyrus
in Bahnasa.. Coming from the ends of the 3rd century it is a trisagion
musically deciphered by Prof.Phales among which:"Let all forces praise
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit the only giver to good people Amen"

(Here
sang Monsieur Youanidy the Hymn with the musical note and his pure voice)

This
Papyrus is a very important one.. It is not like any of the thousands of
old Coptic Papyrus available in Egypt & in the whole world.. Some of
them return back to the 9th Century & of course copied from older copies
(Many of them are concerned with music) Nothing has any musical sign except
in one Papyrus in John Rylands Library, Manchester Collection.. Mr.Crum
the Coptic Language scientist used some specialists to decipher those signs
but they could never do it.. I hope Prof.Phales will arrive to a decision
in this matter.

Coptic
Hymns were transmitted as oral tradition from one generation to another
until 1927 when I brought Prof. Newlandsmith (Composer & Ex-Prof. in
London Royal Music Academy) we signed a contract to transcribe hymns and
masses in Musical Note.. I will mention that in details later on..

The
Egyptian Church arts & dogmas began to raise with the beginning of
Christianity in Egypt.. The Egyptian Church has it's own four masses never
used by any other church..

The
Kyrollos Mass was written by St.Mark the Apostle himself.. Probably, this
Mass' status became stable long ago before St.Kyrollos because it is very
similar to St.James Mass & The Lord's Covenant Mass, the oldest liturgies..
Both St.Basil Mass & St.Gregory do share the same Awashy part with
St.Kyrollos Mass that's why we think that their music also return to it..
Except those, most of St.Kyrollos Mass Music was lost.. Nothing remained
except the hymn Oukoty & Ouoh Nay they are used for the Dead Mass (Requiem
Mass)

Concerning
the St.Basil Masses, there exist 3 masses named after St.Basil.. St.Basil
of Costantinople Church Mass, The Syrian St.Basil Mass & St.Basil Coptic
Mass (it has a Greek text).. These three differ from each other in text,
dogmas & music..

Certainly,
the Egyptian St.Basil Mass does belong to the Egyptian Church.. It was
used before the division of 451 (long before St.Basil the Great).. St.Basil's
Mass Music is pure Egyptian except the confession part & Confession
Introduction they are Byzantine..

This
Byzantine part also belongs to the Egyptian Church since it has no brother
in the Costantinople text except a small sentence.. Neither in the Music,
nothing is similar.. The St.Basil Mass Music, whether the Coptic or the
Byzantine is so beautiful and have big influence if chanted in their original
tunes and with a beautiful talented voice..

The
Gregorian Mass also belongs to the Egyptian Church before division.. It's
music also is Egyptian except it's beginning "The love of God the Father..."
and the Confession are Byzantine..

"The
Love of God the Father" is available in both the Coptic St.Basil Mass and
Byzantine St.John Christomos but still their music are VERY different..
The Gregorian Mass Music is nothing but some Big Hymns which were going
to be lost unless I did record it several times from Mlm.Mikhail who was
the only one to have known it complete.. This mass is used in Big feasts..
It's tunes are splendid and profound and have celebration influence..

The
Malachite Church in Egypt used these 3 masses also after the division of
the Church until the 12 th century..

The
4th Mass is Abba Serapion Bishop of Tomees (Tamyel Amdid) who was the disciple
of St.Anthony the Great and a friend to St.Athenese the Apostolic. It was
published in 1894.. We have strong proof that it belongs to the church
of Alexandria.. Part of it is exactly the same in St.Mark Mass.. We do
know nothing about it's music or use.. It seems it wasn't used widely and
didn't last for long..

In
the writings of HH Gabriel Ben-Toreik Pope No 70 we got that some people
tried using different masses than the 3 known ones.. In section 26 of his
writings we found: "It came to me the weak, that some people in the Southern
Cities (Seiid) pray inappropriate masses different from the three we all
know which are St.Basil, St.Gregory & St.Kyrollos.. I defended people
who are depending on that until they come at my residence and show these
masses.."

(Here
was played a tape in Hegmn.Morcos priest of Matay-el-mahatta's voice "The
Love of God the father", The Commemoration of Saints & Tarhim)

Concerning
hymns, a big rich collection survived and was preserved for the Church..
Their number exceed 300 Big & Small hymn.. Most of their texts are
Coptic, some are Greek.. BUT all the music IS Coptic... These hymns are
Spiritual, Profound & Beautiful.. They represent the High Standard
of Spiritual Literature.. The original source of these hymns is pure Musical..
Some of them do last 15 minutes & are sung over one or few words or
just a short sentence.. Some of them (only in Greek words) are in use by
Malachite but have different Byzantine Music..

All
Church services as Tasbeha, Evening & Morning Incense Offering, Masses,
Feasts & Fasts have their own hymns.. It differs accordingly to seasons..
Many Hymns are said just once a year. Which means it was composed for a
special occasion.. Which proves that the Coptic Church is a very Musical
One.. The Coptic Dogmas with their hymns throughout the year represent
the LIFE in both the Old & New Testaments which shows CHRISTIANITY
with splendid beauty in representation..

The
sorrowful hymns have a very strong influence.. No music in the whole world
is similar.. It seems that this special aspect did characterise Egypt since
very old ages: Herodote who visited Egypt in 460 BC said in his book about
Egypt section 79:"One thing I am wondering about, which is the source of
the song called Linos.. I think it is so old there, they call it Maniros..
They say that Maniros was the only son of their very first King.. He died
very young so that they sang this sorrowful song for him.. And that this
song was the first one they had.." In 1933, when more than 30 European
Musician & Scientist heard these sorrowful songs, in the Music Conference
held in Cairo, where I had the honour to be a member, a strong feeling
mastered them.. I will never forget the "Singing Science" Professors in
the Sorbone - Paris who asked Hegmn. Morcos Shenouda to repeat the Commemoration
of Saints OVER 6 TIMES.. Also Mr.Newlandsmith said in one of his speeches:
"Give me Cruzu's voice singing some Coptic Hymns and I will destroy Jericho's
Walls.."

These
sorrowful Hymns make the earthly boundings disappear, make the soul humble
some of them could destroy the Hypocrite soul who insists in living sinner!!

(Here
the chorus sang the hymn Golgotha)

The
Coptic joyful hymns have their very special spiritual taste.. They make
us feel that the heavenly beauty is very superior to all this world's feelings..
We do believe that a hymn, sung in a talented voice and sincere soul has
big influence more than dozens of words in attracting people to the Lord..

(Another
Chorus sang Ei Aghaby whose music is Coptic and another hymn said in the
end of Resurrection Feast)

Religious
Hymns which where composed similar to folkloric songs played a big role
in spreading heresies and also in fighting them.. By the ends of the second
Century, the Syrian "Beridessane" composed 150 psalm to spread the Gnostic
Heresy which he joined he and his disciples.. So St.Avraam the Syrian composed
hymns to resist & oppose it and gathered Choruses of Virgins who were
intended to become nuns to sing them.. Also Arios composed folkloric songs
to spread his heresy.. And a lot of fathers in Egypt & Europe composed
opposite hymns to resist his thoughts.. As I did mention previously, Coptic
Music was transmitted orally since the beginning of Christianity until
1927 when I called the Great Professor Newlandsmith who spent eight years
transcribing it from the voice of Mlm.Mikhail until the work was done in
16 volumes..

In
1931, when this job came to it's middle, the renewing supporters who called
themselves the Reformation Party attacked me saying that I don't want to
preserve the old things.. On this same year in May, I travelled to England
and gave with Mr.Newlandsmith three speeches concerning Coptic Music in
the universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London.. Hundreds of Newspapers
& Magazines in Europe, the States, Egypt & the Far East wrote about
these speeches.. Fortunately, I still have all these speeches, here I show
it to you.. Here on the first page an article in Oxford Newsletter: "A
Great Speech added to the group of this season's speeches" These articles
described Coptic Music as Very Spiritual Music Very impressive and A Great
Musical Treasure..

Here
are the 16 volumes dear Copts would you publish them.. I don't want any
personal benefit, I even don't want to write my name down there.. After
that, I don't think that any group of people would lack in preserving the
most important tradition he & the whole world have, the oldest musical
heritage. Many scientists everywhere are waiting for the publishing of
these volumes to study Coptic Music & know the Coptic musical scales..
Although great researches on Byzantine, Syrian, Gregorian Music were published,
not a word in any Musical Encyclopaedia was written about Coptic Music!!

I am
working on recording the hymns on tapes to provide the Great Genius Prof.
Phales with the recordings and transcriptions and prepare to publish them.
This Professor is the one who deciphered Old Byzantine Music Transcription..

Coptic
Music is Not Arabic, Not Turkish, Not Byzantine & Not Western IT IS
PURE ORIGINAL EGYPTIAN MUSIC..

Until
today, many traditional Church music is only vocal among which Coptic,
Greek & Syrian.. Above mentioned Scientists and many others advised
to preserve it. They said it is the biggest crime to try playing it on
musical instruments for it was designed for human's voices.. Playing it
on strings gives poor, cut performance which does not represent by any
way the hymn itself.. Playing it on Piano (or keyboards) requires adding
harmony which also is not appropriate and requires us to destroy it's basis
& squeleton foundations.. That means destroying the Church Heritage
which is considered one of the most profound Church traditions.. The Greek
Church also doesn't use instruments even the Cymbal & Triangle are
not used there..

Prof.Newlandsmith
did find some few small Coptic pieces, counted on one's hand fingers which
could give the same effect when played on violin as when sung (A Capella)
such as the Revelation Book Response..

(Here
Monsieur Yoanides played it on his violin, then Mlm.Sadek Attalla sang
it, both were wonderful and mastered it very well.. To show the difference,
Monsieur Yoanides played the Blessing Hymn (Lahnel Baraka) which is Tenouosht..
Mlm.Sadek sang it as well.. The difference was really big & clear,
which proves that these hymns should be only vocal and should never be
played on instruments..)

Although
we do have this great heritage, Copts tend now to use western songs &
hymns which are superficial in both structure & meaning.. It's music
is repulsive with our Church's beautiful dogmas & hymns.. What really
hurts me & breaks my heart is that these songs did invade some of our
Coptic Orthodox Church's atmosphere.. which surely not appropriate with
our father's spirit..